Eddie Jordan: “I think we’re right on target”

Highlights from Eddie Jordan’s fascinating and frank postgame press conference after Rutgers lost 70-66 to Cincinnati this afteroon, finishing the regular-season with an 11-20 mark (5-13 in conference) . . .

“First of all I want to thank our fans and the Rutgers community for supporting us. It was a terrific turnout. I hope they understand the process is successful so far, no matter what the record is. We’ve learned how to compete with integrity, we’ve learned how to compete with composure, we’re coming together as a team. Our kids are doing terrific off the floor.”

“The process is successful. Is it a step ahead or a step behind? I think we’re right on target. Of course we’d like to have won more games and maybe had a few upsets, but I’ve never given up on our players in tough times. I don’t think they’ve given up on me. Kerwin Okoro is a perfect example.”

“It’s hard not having a winning season. It takes a lot out of your emotional state. You’re antsy to win and disappointed about losing, but our kids come to practice every day and you know what? We’ve got other things to accomplish.”

Difference in this game?

“They had a terrific player who could be a pro, took the game over on that final drive. That timeout we said it’s not going to be anything tricky. Going to be a straight line drive or a post-up or something off of multiple screens, a catch and shoot…I thought it would be a drive . . . If they spread the floor out a great player is going to have the advantage.”

In the locker room afterward…

“First think I said was, ‘Applaud our seniors please. We gave our seniors a standing ovation in the locker room.”

“When you put new team together like we did in the summer, we have to learn how to play together, which is a process in itself. Then we have to learn how win together, which is totally different. We’ve gotten closer to learning how to win together.”

On Kerwin Okoro’s play of late:

“He’s got a terrific, positive, bright personality. You love to see it. Every day he works hard, probably harder than anybody else. I think he lost 20 pounds in the last 5-6 weeks. He started off late, was our fourth guard at the beginning of the season, then he got injured the day before the season started. It took him six weeks or so to get back healthy. So he stated behind. The process was a bit longer for him but I’m happy for him, only because of his heart and ability to be a terrific teammate.”

On his own adjustment to the college game after so many years in the pros…

“It was a big adjustment for me, too, a huge adjustment – in the entire program situation, not just basketball. I’ve been used to it for 20-something years of Xs and Os, managing a team of professionals. This is more than a slight difference.”

“I texted my buddy Bernie Bickerstaff during the all-star break and said, ‘Geez, you guys are soft, the NBA needs a break during the season. We don’t take breaks in the NCAA.’ He texted me back and said, ‘My man, your break is coming pretty soon.’”

“It was some adjustment for me. I love it, I love the process. I’m hitting the track running after the (AAC) tournament.”

On his decision down the stretch to put Seagears on Kilpatrick (instead of Moore, who defended him reasonably well for most of the game):

“I didn’t want JJ on him. I thought Jerome could do better from the distance where he started (on that final drive). Again, if you don’t put a real major, major stopper on a kid like that, he’s going to have an advantage. That’s just the way it is in basketball.”

On dealing with playing-time complaints:
“I’ve had multiple talks with Larry Brown (about this). Every kid believes he should play a lot. That’s not going to happen. In the beginning of the season I said we can go 11 deep … everyone thinks they should be in the rotation . . . I hate to see a kid be a little disappointed because he can’t play. In the NBA, that’s the way life is. (In college) kids want to play because of their classmates, their school. I feel bad that they feel disappointed but they have to get over that.”

About Jerry Carino

Jerry Carino has covered sports for the Gannett New Jersey newspapers since 1996 and has been on the college basketball beat since 2003. A native of Old Bridge, he also teaches journalism at Kean University.

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About the Author

Jerry Carino has covered sports for the Gannett New Jersey newspapers since 1996 and has been on the college basketball beat since 2003. A native of Old Bridge, he also teaches journalism at Kean University.Email Jerry.